North and South Korea share illegal fishing boat information

By

Wooyoung Lee

This photo provided by the Coast Guard on Aug. 10, 2018, shows a Chinese fishing boat caught fishing illegally in waters off Baekryeong Island near the maritime border with North Korea the same day. The Coast Guard said it expelled more than 80 other Chinese fishing boats operating illegally in the South Korean waters throughout the day. Photo by Yonhap

SEOUL, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- North and South Korean authorities resumed exchange of information on illegal fishing vessels in the sea border off the Korean Peninsula's west coast.

South Korea's defense ministry said Friday that it began sharing information on foreign fishing vessels illegally fishing in the Korean waters with North Korea, for the first time in a decade, Yonhap News reported.

Two Koreas stopped the exchange of information on illegal fishing vessels from May 2008 amid growing tensions.

Seoul's defense ministry said that sharing fishing boat information is to prevent any "accidental clash" in the sea border.

Authorities also expect this can enhance enforcement against illegal fishing by Chinese vessels, according to the report.

On Friday, South Korean authorities captured two Chinese fishing vessels, suspected of illegally fishing near the maritime border with North Korea. According to maritime police, 13 fishing crews were on board with 100 tons of anchovies.